Army rebuilds – After multiple horse deaths forced the U.S. Army to shut down its Arlington National Cemetery funeral caisson program in 2023, the service has invested more than $30 million to rebuild facilities, training and horse care—aiming to deliver ceremonies while “put
At Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County. Virginia. the caisson tradition isn’t just choreography—it’s one of the last moments families share with a loved one. For weeks at a time, up to 10 funerals each week were supported by the U.S. Army’s Caisson Detachment, but the horses that make the procession possible were missing.
That absence dates back to 2023. when the Army shut the program down after the deaths of multiple horses exposed unsanitary conditions and shortcomings in their care. While the Army investigated what went wrong and rebuilt the program from the ground up. more than 2. 000 Arlington funerals took place without horses.
The restart came with money and a hard pivot toward welfare. The Army invested more than $30 million into upgrades, new facilities, revamped training, and a renewed focus on horse welfare. One of the changes is mechanical and immediate: the new $256. 000 caisson wagon the horses pull now weighs 1. 205 pounds. down from the previous wagon’s 2. 800 pounds.
When the program returned, it also returned with a different command structure—one built around veterinary oversight. The Army placed a horse veterinarian in command of the unit. Col. Jason Crawford. the veterinarian in command. said the goal is not only to complete the mission. but to do it while “putting the horses first.” He also argued that soldiers are central to spotting problems early because they spend the most time with the animals.
Crawford said, “The soldiers are the primary people that are actually telling us, ‘Hey, something’s wrong.’ They’re seeing them all the time, so they can pick up on the little telltale signs of where, rather than treating an illness, we’re trying to prevent it before it happens.”
The rebuild also reaches into training itself. Many recruits arrive with little or no riding experience before completing 12 weeks of basic horsemanship training and six weeks of advanced instruction in Ocala. Florida. Inga Köhn. an instructor. described the first challenge as helping soldiers stay balanced and composed if something goes wrong—like when a horse spooks to the side.
Köhn said, “We’re ‘helping them find balance in case something happens, a horse spooks to the side.’” During a training session, she told a soldier: “If you keep riding two meters over left, you end up in the wrong funeral.”
That precision matters because each funeral is a public event for a grieving family. and even small mistakes can disrupt the procession. Soldiers spend months learning how to maintain formation, control multiple horses, and react when an animal becomes startled. Specialist Jamie Sims described how pressure intensifies as training moves from rehearsal toward reality.
Sims said, “It’s kind of nerve-racking because now it’s higher stakes. Like, it’s training right now, but then you also have to think, ‘OK, this is real-life missions.’ Like, we can’t mess anything up.”
The training culminates in a validation test that determines whether soldiers can participate in funeral missions. Riders are graded on posture, form, and their ability to maintain control during unexpected situations. Soldiers who fail return to training before attempting the test again.
One validation exercise ended with a fail after a soldier dropped control of her reins and briefly lost control of her horse; instructors said even a single safety issue is enough to keep a rider from advancing.
Most of the detachment’s horses are Percherons—chosen for strength, endurance and calm temperament. But the work still treats them as what they are: prey animals that can react suddenly to unfamiliar sights and sounds. Trainers now expose the horses to loud noises. flags. crowds. vehicle sounds. and even an air cannon designed to simulate unexpected disturbances they may encounter during military funerals.
Daily care is part of the operational routine too. Soldiers take responsibility for feeding, hoof cleaning, bathing, and monitoring the animals’ health. Specialist Christopher Cuby, training as a horse soldier, called the work demanding, but said repetition makes it manageable.
Cuby said, “Some of it can be a little bit tedious, but once you get in a rhythm, once you just take things step by step, it’s not too bad.”
The Army also said that each horse wears about $24,000 worth of tack during a funeral procession—another reminder of how much preparation goes into every detail.
For the soldiers who earn a place in the detachment, the mission carries unusual weight. The funeral procession gives families one final memory of their loved one’s service. and soldiers get only one chance to get it right. Sgt. Nick Cardenas. after completing his first funeral mission following months of training. described it as “humbling.” Cuby put the purpose plainly: “We’re taking them to their final resting place. That’s why it’s important that we do it correctly.”.
The rebuild answers more than one problem at once. Horses once died during a program that had been running without the standard of care the Army now says it needs. After more than 2. 000 funerals happened without horses. the Army’s return to the Arlington tradition—supported by more than $30 million in upgrades. revamped training. and a veterinarian-led approach—tries to ensure the mission doesn’t just look right. It has to be right for the animals, too.
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